SEV Biblia, Chapter 6:16
¶ Y cuando ayunis, no seis como los hipcritas, austeros; porque ellos demudan sus rostros para parecer a los hombres que ayunan; de cierto os digo, que ya tienen su pago.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Matthew 6:16
Verse 16. When ye fast] A fast is termed by the Greeks nhstiv, from nh not, and esqein to eat; hence fast means, a total abstinence from food for a certain time. Abstaining from flesh, and living on fish, vegetables, &c., is no fast, or may be rather considered a burlesque on fasting. Many pretend to take the true definition of a fast from Isa. lviii. 3, and say that it means a fast from sin. This is a mistake; there is no such term in the Bible as fasting from sin; the very idea is ridiculous and absurd, as if sin were a part of our daily food. In the fast mentioned by the prophet, the people were to divide their bread with the hungry, Isa. lviii. 7; but could they eat their bread, and give it too? No man should save by a fast: he should give all the food he might have eaten to the poor. He who saves a day's expense by a fast, commits an abomination before the Lord. See more on "Matthew ix. 15". As the hypocrites-of a sad countenance] skuqrwpoi, either from skuqrov sour, crabbed, and wy the countenance; or from skuqhv a Scythian, a morose, gloomy, austere phiz, like that of a Scythian or Tartar.
A hypocrite has always a difficult part to act: when he wishes to appear as a penitent, not having any godly sorrow at heart, he is obliged to counterfeit it the best way he can, by a gloomy and austere look.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 16. Moreover when ye fast , etc.] This is to be understood, not so much of their public stated fasts, and which were by divine appointment, as of their private fasts; which, with the Jews, were very frequent and numerous, and particularly every Monday and Thursday; (see Luke 18:12) in which they affected great severity, and is here condemned by Christ: be not as the hypocrites , the Scribes and Pharisees, of a sad countenance ; who put on very mournful airs, and dismal looks; made wry faces, and distorted countenances; banished all pleasantry and cheerfulness from them, so that they looked quite like other men than they really were; for they disfigure their faces ; not by covering them out of sight, by putting a veil over them, as some have thought; but they neglected to wash their faces, and make them clean, as at other times; and not only so, but put ashes upon their heads, and other methods they used: they discoloured their faces, or made them black, as the Arabic version reads it; that they might look as if they became so through fasting: and such persons were in great esteem, and thought to be very religious. It is said f420 , in commendation of R. Joshua ben Chanamah, that all his days wynp wrjwh , his face was black, through fastings; and this is said to be the reason of Ashurs name, in ( 1 Chronicles 4:5) because his face was black with fasting: yea, they looked upon such a disfiguring of the face to be meritorious, and what would be rewarded hereafter. Whoever (say they f422 ) wynp ryjmh , makes his face black, on account of the law in this world, God will make his brightness to shine in the world to come.
Now these practices they used, that they might appear unto men to fast : so that either they did not really fast, when they pretended to it; only put on these outward appearances, that men might think they did; or, not content with real fasting, which they must be conscious of themselves, and God knew, they took such methods, that it might appear to men that they fasted, and that they might be taken notice of, and applauded by them: for their view in fasting was not to satisfy their own consciences, or please God, but that they might have glory of men. Hence, says Christ, verily I say unto you, they have their reward ; they obtain what they seek for, honour from men, and that is all they will have.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 16-18 - Religious fasting is a duty required of the disciples of Christ, but it is not so much a duty itself, as a means to dispose us for othe duties. Fasting is the humbling of the soul, Ps 35:13; that is the inside of the duty; let that, therefore, be thy principal care, and a to the outside of it, covet not to let it be seen. God sees in secret and will reward openly.
Greek Textus Receptus
οταν 3752 CONJ δε 1161 CONJ νηστευητε 3522 5725 V-PAS-2P μη 3361 PRT-N γινεσθε 1096 5737 V-PNM-2P ωσπερ 5618 ADV οι 3588 T-NPM υποκριται 5273 N-NPM σκυθρωποι 4659 A-NPM αφανιζουσιν 853 5719 V-PAI-3P γαρ 1063 CONJ τα 3588 T-APN προσωπα 4383 N-APN αυτων 846 P-GPM οπως 3704 ADV φανωσιν 5316 5652 V-2APS-3P τοις 3588 T-DPM ανθρωποις 444 N-DPM νηστευοντες 3522 5723 V-PAP-NPM αμην 281 HEB λεγω 3004 5719 V-PAI-1S υμιν 5213 P-2DP οτι 3754 CONJ απεχουσιν 568 5719 V-PAI-3P τον 3588 T-ASM μισθον 3408 N-ASM αυτων 846 P-GPM
Vincent's NT Word Studies
16. Ye fast (nhsteuhte). Observe the force of the present tense as indicating action in progress: Whenever ye may be fasting.Of a sad countenance (okuqrwpoi). An uncommon word in the New Testament, occuring only here and at Luke xxiv. 17. Trench ("Studies in the Gospels") explains it by the older sense of the English dreary, as expressing the downcast look of settled grief, pain, or displeasure. In classical Greek it also signifies sullenness and affected gravity. Luther renders, Look not sour.
Disfigure (afanizousin). The idea is rather conceal than disfigure. There is a play upon this word and fanwsin (they may appear) which is untranslatable into English: they conceal or mask their true visage that they may appear unto men. The allusion is to the outward signs of humiliation which often accompanied fasting, such as being unwashed and unshaven and unanointed. "Avoid," says Christ, "the squalor of the unwashed face and of the unkempt hair and beard, and the rather anoint thy head and wash thy face, so as to appear (fanhv) not unto men, but unto God as fasting." Wycliffe's rendering is peculiar: They put their faces out of kindly terms.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
6:16 {Of a sad countenance} (skuqrwpoi). Only here and #Lu 24:17 in the N.T. It is a compound of skuqros (sullen) and oy (countenance). These actors or hypocrites "put on a gloomy look" (Goodspeed) and, if necessary, even "disfigure their faces" (aphanizousin ta pros"pa autwn), that they may look like they are fasting. It is this pretence of piety that Jesus so sharply ridicules. There is a play on the Greek words aphanizousi (disfigure) and fan"Sin (figure). They conceal their real looks that they may seem to be fasting, conscious and pretentious hypocrisy.
